I’m considering replacing the stock bearings in some of my race wheels with ceramic bearings. Seems like some of the high end wheel manufacturers are now using ceramic bearings.
Has anyone out there replaced their stock bearings with ceramic ones? Did you notice any difference?
Thanks,
Ceramic bearings are a joke for bicycle hub applications. They are a ploy by certain manufacturers to separate you from a little more of your money. Standard bearings work great as long as they are replaced and/or lubed as appropriate.
I used a pair of Ceramic Bearings in a pair of my Velomax Wheels, they made a HUGE difference. You could definitly notice the difference between the two types of bearings. the downfall, if of course the cost. the only reason I did this is because I got them for free!!! There is one thing better than cheap: Free!!!
What a bunch of shit - YES they ARE BETTER - it is PROVEN…Why is it when something new and cool comes out most of y’all poo poo the idea and claim it is a waste of money? If it is not worth YOUR money does not make it wrong for another person to spend thier money on it. (Very good example is people telling me in the past I am dumb for buying Zipp wheels over the Renn…not saying that the Renn is not a good wheel - but even Frank has complimented the Zipp 909’s).
However, maybe if “good enough” is “good enough” for you then stick with Steel in grease.
And another thing…cones and balls are faster than cartridge bearings any day…just some people cant or dont like to adjust them properly.
My understanding is that ceramics were used in motors, etc. because of their heat tolerance… which would make sense in high-RPM applications (and of no advantage in low RPM applications like a bike).
what i hear from a company that offers it is that it’s 1 watt. maybe yes, maybe no, but that’s the claim. $1500, 3 or 4 seconds over 40k, at best.
that’s not be saying it, that’s them saying it.
so, yes, in the best case it makes sense for lance and co. but otherwise…
Dre - my comments are not directed at you - as you are probably right about what the ceramic bearings were originally indented to do…but then again Aluminum and Titanium are only for airplanes right? Carbon fiber only for airplanes too…just because things are designed in one place (In cycling seemingly most often aerospace) does not mean that we can not benefit from the use of the same products in other applications - such as cycling.
This is why I ride cones and balls …
I don’t claim it’s a waste of money, I honestly don’t give a flying fuck…
Is a ‘flying fuck’ anything like joining the ‘mile high’ club?
My friend who is sharing my booth and showing his super light-weight (300+ grams including BB) super stiff cranks (Negative Mass cranks) that will be avaialble soon at over $1,000 (final price not known) uses ceramic bearings in the BB cup. He does this for several reasons including improved wear (for longer life) and they allow him to have a bigger axle (24mm) which is part of where he gets his improved stiffness from.
They are cool but clearly not for everyone. But, I can assure you that lots of people here are wanting to buy this puppy now.
In my vast studies, ceramic bearings are equal to one less trip a month to McDonalds, 5 more miles of training and just riding harder.
that’s the claim. $1500, 3 or 4 seconds over 40k, at best.
that’s not me saying it, that’s them saying it.
I think this proves the “overkill” argument – $500 per second per hour (!!).
I’m sure even most pros could gain far, far more than that over 40km by trimming back their derailleur and brake cable ends a cm or two, trimming their helmet strap end, not wearing a wristwatch, and routing their cables a little more tightly at the front. All of which costs $0.